CEO Position: European tool industry calls for a practical and SME-friendly implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) for tools

13 April 2026

Digital Product Passport Must Work for Industry – Not Against It

The European Tool Association (CEO) brings together Europe’s manufacturers of hand tools, power tool accessories and construction fixings.

With an annual turnover of around €30 billion and approximately 150,000 employees, the European tool industry plays a key role in supplying essential products to sectors such as manufacturing, construction and infrastructure.

Looking ahead, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) is set to become a cornerstone of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), aiming to improve transparency and sustainability throughout product lifecycles. While specific requirements for tools have not yet been defined, it is already clear that the sector will be affected in the future.

CEO therefore engages with the topic at an early stage and welcomes the objectives of the DPP, provided its implementation is aligned with industrial realities and remains practical and proportionate, particularly for SMEs.

At the same time, the DPP should be used as an opportunity to streamline existing obligations by creating a single, efficient access point for product-related information, rather than increasing administrative complexity.

To ensure its success, the framework must remain flexible, protect sensitive business information and be fully harmonized across the EU, avoiding fragmentation and unnecessary burdens for companies.

You can find the full text of the CEO Position Paper in the Download section below.